Ravenna - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo

In 488, Byzantine Emperor Zeno encouraged Theoderich to overthrow Zeno´s former ally Odoacer. Odoacer, King of Italy since 476, had supported a rebellious rival of Zeno.

Theoderich invaded Italy with his army in 488 and - after a two years siege - took Ravenna in 493.

After some negociations, Theoderich and Odoacer signed a treaty that assured both parties would rule over Italy. A banquet was organised in order to celebrate. It was at this party that Theoderic, after making a toast, drew his sword and killed Odoacer.

Theoderich so became the first king of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, married Audofleda, sister of Clovis I. He died in 526, at the age of 72, and as "Dietrich von Bern" became a hero of German legend.

The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was commissioned by Theodoric as his palace chapel. This was an Arian church, consecrated in 504.

Starting in 535, the Byzantine Empire invaded Italy under Justinian I.
After Byzantine troops had conquered Ravenna the basilica got "remodeled", converted into a Catholic church and finally reconsecrated in 561.

Much of the "remodeling" was to get rid of portraits of the former rulers.


Here is on the left Theoderich´s palace (= PALA TIUM). In the back is probably this church. To the rights are some details.


When the mosaic was created, it had Theoderich the Great in the center and beside him in both sides his family and his court.

So now, the spaces between the columns were blacked out and covered up with curtains, but actually the columns stayed unchanged. There are still some hands or at least fingers to find, that once belonged to the Arian Ostrogoths.